Stiffener for traveling-bags.



P. RUEHLMANN. STIFFENER FOB TRAVELING BAGS. APPLIOATION rum) MAY 16, 1911.

Patented Apr. 7, 19M

2 sums-sum 1.

' V IN VENTOR ATI'ONEY P. RUEHLMANN, STIFFBNER FOR TRAVELING BAGS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

' Patented Apr. 7, 191$ 2 BHEETS-BHEET 2.

A TTORNE Y ooaaar.

STIFFENER FOR TRAVELING-BAGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. "7, 191%.

Application filed May 15, 1911. Serial No. 627,150.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIPP RUEHLMANN,

Y a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Stiffeners for Traveling-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of my invention is to stifien and support the frames and upper portions of traveling bags or grips. It is applicable to any of the types of bags in which either an English or riveted club bag frame is or could be used, including the Oxford, Club and Boston shapes.

A further purpose of my invention is to distribute downward strains of and upon the bag frame between a brace, preferably a spring brace, and the cover or material of the bag, against which the brace is forced. I prefer to locate my spring braces in proximity to the junctions of the sides with the gussets of the various forms of traveling bags and to have the braces follow substan-.

tially the contour of the bag.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide outwardly pressing braces, preferably of spring material for the upper parts of the sides of a bag and, most desirably, to

secure the braces at their ends and an inter- 'these apertures, making a variety of combinations possible.

A further purpose of my invention is to divide a brace, preferably of spring material, for a travehng bag whichis located in close proximity to the seam joining the side and gusset of the bag, at approximately the top of the box portion thereof, or at any point of appreciable change of slope of the end of the bag, and to pivot the two parts of the brace at this point so that straight braceparts may be madeto follow substantially thecontour of the side of the begin close proximity to the end thereof.

I have preferred to illustrate my invention by forms thereof which have been tried by me and found to be inexpensive, practical and efficient, and which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 1s a section of the structure shown in Fig. 1 taken upon lines 2" X thereof. Fig.

3 is a broken perspective interior view of the form shown in Fig. 1, but with the bag open and the lining removed. Figs. 4 and 5 1 are broken sectional views showing the method of connecting one embodiment of my lnvention to the English or stitched and to the riveted types of frame respectively. Fig. 6 is a perspective interior view similar to Fig. 3, but with the brace applied at an intermediate point in the side of my bag. Fig. 7 is a broken perspective interior view of a modified form of brace applicable to the side near the corner of the bag.

It Wlll be evident that my invention is equally applicable to awide variety of proportions of difierent types of bag, wherever an English or riveted club bag frame could be used, and of which the best known examples are the Oxford, Club and Boston types; that it is equally suited to both types of frame stated or to any other serving a like purpose; and that it is wholly independent of the character of seam used, whether welt or edge type thereof.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the drawings.

In the illustrations I apply the invention to an Oxford bag having sides 1, gussets 2 and bottom 3. In this the lower portion is boxed up to approximately the point 4, being stiffened by any suitable material 5; The type of frame used is not of the. essence of the invention. I have shown a frame 6 of the English type, to which the fabric is sewed at 7, and have shown an outwardly folding gusset at 8, though the direction of fold of this gusset also is wholly immaterial. I prefer to place my brace or support in comparatively close proximity to the junction between the' gussets and sides of the continuous in direction, being approximately vertical at 9 and at an angle thereto at 10, requiring that the upper and lower parts of the brace shall be at an angle to each other if they are to closely approximate the contour of the corner. This approximation is preferred by me, in order that the support of the brace may substantially coincide with that of the seam or corner; in order to keep the edges well braced,

as these receive the most of the thrust, being most exposed; because the stretching at the terminals adds greatly to the support of the entire sides; and for the improvement to the appearance given by sharply defined terminals.

Where an angular brace is desired, in order to follow as closely as practicable a seam which varies in direction, I prefer to make the brace in two parts, as in Figs. 1 and 3 rather than in one part, as in Fig. 7. The one-piece angular form requires special stamping, expensive for this reason and, ad ditionally, because the different heights of bag, and proportions of the different parts at an angle to each other even when of the same height, require many different stampings. I, therefore, prefer to make my end braces in two pieces 11 and 12 for such a bag as that shown here, pivoting them at 13 and at the same time obtaining attachment to the bag at this point by means 'of any suitable rivet 14. In the form shown I have apertured the upper part 12 at various points 15 and the lower part as at 16 in order that different heights of box and total height of bag may be accommodated by one set of brace parts. The pivoting at 13 permits the 'parts to follow closely the contour of the end of the bag and I secure the parts 11 and 12 to the bottom and frame by extensions 17 and 18 and any-suitable rlvets or fasteners 19 and 20. The shape of or need for the extension 18 will, of course, depend upon the frame used. I show the form at 18 in Fig. 4 for the English or stitched frame, and that illustrated at 18' in Fig. 5 for the riveted frame.

Wherever the bag is flexible I much prefer to make my stlfi'ening parts of spring material which will tend to press the sides outwardly. Thus it would be quite desirable to use spring material throughout the extent of the portion 12 while there would be less benefit from using spring material for the portion 11 and this portion may be omitted wherever the stiffening of the box portion is sufficient toproperly support theupper part shown at 12. The initla'll interiorly concaved form of bag 'resu ting from the outward pressure of the part 12 restrains and thus gives reinforcement to the brace by the material of the bag whenever downward pressure is exerted upon the frame of the bag since the result ofthe downward pressure, as well seen in Fig. 2, is to bulge the brace outwardly against the side of the bag. The spring of the brace desired and as shown, with also results in quica recovery of the sides of the bag when ,ressed inwardly with maintenance of the s ape of the ba as'provided by its original construction, t e brace taking up the slack and-stretching the sides of the bag outwardly.

While I have shown the fasteners 19 as" corresponding very nearly in position with the corner studs 21, it is not necessary that the shall be combined with these studs, or wit these fasteners for the corner pieces 22, and I have therefore preferred to illustrate them as independent thereof. I have used a washer 23 beneath the 'fastener 13 In both of the forms illustrated, I have shown the satchel frame as covered with any suitable material 25, 26.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, I have illustrated a brace at a point along the side of the "grip and between the ends thereof. These braces may be used alone or in connection'with end braces, and are subject to the same modification by omission of the lower part of the brace, where the stiffening of the box of the bag affords sufiicient support as in the caseof the braces situated in the corners. As there is no advantage in fol= lowing the contour of the end or seam at this point, this brace is made straight and may conveniently and effectively be made out of a siiigle strip or piece of material if revision at an intermediate point 27, so t at it may be there attached to the side of the bag, preferably ator near the top of any boxed portion thereof. Division. of the arts of this brace offers advantage in fitting different.

' end or seam is followed. The disadvantage of needing different sizes for different dimensions of bag, present in the form shown in Fig. 6, is here em hasized by the difii culty of cutting out t e irregular shape of the strip shown and the variation of ,the length of the lower part thereof, which'is required by different bags of the same hei ht.

While I attain efi'ective combination be actual connection therebetween, I recognize that a part of the benefit of my invention I could be attained by securing the end of the brace to a stiffened upper side construc- 1 o tion effectively movable with the frame or terminating the'brace in or in effective proximity to such part so stiffened as to transmit the frame movement. For this reason I desire to be understood in my claims as including any such embodiment of my invention when I refer to means connecting the brace and frame or similar language, which means may be either direct or indirect connection, and may'include the stiffening of the leather close to'the frame, the closeness of the-point of connection to the frame, etc.,

provided it be operative for the purpose in-,

I the use of braces situated at the corners, as

in Fig. 3, without intermediate braces of which one form 1s shown in Flg. 6, to intermediate braces without .the end or corner braces. The best advantage in many instances maybe attained by the use of both the corner and intermediate braces and the selection and proportioning of these parts can safely be left to the skill of the mechanic in applying my invention to the particular circumstances of individual cases.

It will be evident that the outward pressure of the brace members against the bag initially when the bag is closed is due to the correspondence of their length with the distance measured along the upper side structure of the bag between the points of attachment of each brace when the bag is open and the greater length of the outer part of this contour than the inner part thereof when curved as in the closed position; and also because of the spring of the metal itself. It will also be evident that the outward pressure of the brace members against the upper side structure of the bag which results from weight of or pressure upon the frame is thus transmitted because of the arch formation of these members by which they are bowed outwardly instead of being merely bent by this pressure.

Having thus described my invention,.what I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A bag having upper side portions upwardly and inwardly converging to form an arch having portions immediately on each side adjoining the center of the arch at an angle to each other and an opening along the center line, a frame about the opening, resilient braces, one on each side of the center, extending transversely outwardly and downwardly along the contour of the arch and separate means for securing the brace members to the bag below the arch and to the frame.

2. In a device of the character stated, a bag havmg opposite upper sides meeting atthe center and interiorly concave in proximity to the center in transverse planes, a club bag frame therein, interiorly concave resilient braces, having substantially the same length each between its points of connection as the distance therebetween measured along the side of the bag, and swelledagainst the side by closing of the bag and by downward pressure on the frame and separate means connecting the braces with the frame and bag.

3. In a device ofthe character stated, a bag, a club bag frame therein terminating appreciably above the bottom of the bag, a resilient brace for the frame and separate means connecting the brace to the bag and frame, said brace being restrained by and thusreinforced by the bag, having its upper part extending obliquely upwardly from the side to the center of the bag forming an acute angle with longitudinal vertical planes through the bag and thus outwardly pressed against the side of the bag by downward pressure upon the frame.

4:. In a device of the character stated, a bag having a flexible upper side structure and gussets, a bag frame therein supported by said sides and gussets and terminating considerably above the bottom of the bag, resilient additional means and connections between the means and the bag and frame, respectively, said means being located inside the bag and supporting the frame.

5. In a device of the character stated, a bag having a boxed lower portion and converging flexible upper portions, a club bag frame therein terminating above the boxed portion, a flexible brace and separate means connecting the brace with the boxed portion and frame, respectively, said brace following the contour of the flexible part of the bag, having the portions of the brace on each side of the center interiorly concave and at an angle to each other.

6. In a device of the character stated, a bag having a flexible upper side structure interiorly concave in cross section adjoining and on each side of the center, a frame terminating appreciably above the bottom of the bag, a resilient brace secured to the lower side structure at one end and means connecting the brace to the frame at the other end, said brace normally pressing outwardly against the top of the bag.

7. In a device of the character stated, a bag having a stiffened lower and flexible upper side structures, and an opening adjoining the flexible side structures, a frame therefor, spring braces, separate means conmeeting the braces to the stiffened part of the side and frame, respectively, said brace normally resiliently pressing outwardly against the flexible up er side structure in proximity to the opening.

8. In a device of the character stated, a bag, having the upper and lowerparts of its end at an angle to each other and a two part brace for the bag connected therewith at opposite ends and substantially following the contour of the gusset, the two parts being united to each other in proximity to the point of change of direction of the end.

9. In a device of the character stated, a bag, having bottom, sides and gussets, a club bag frame, braces adapted to support the frame and substantially following the contours of the seams between the sides and gu'ssets and separate means for securing the braces to the bag and frame, respectively, to support the upper part of the bag.

10. In a bag, side, gusset and bottom body portions, a pair of transverse 'brfaces upon opposite sides of the bag, curving upwardly and inwardly toward each other at their upper ends and there forming an arch when the bag is closed, means for securing the braces to the'adjoining body of the bag below the arch, a club bag frame and means connecting the frame and the braces in proximity to the apex of the arch, the frame thus transmitting its downward thrust through the arch to the body of the bag.

PHILIPP RUEHLMANN.

Witnesses:

BERTHOLD J. RUEHLMANN, WILLIAM STEELL J AOKSON. 

